The Seattle Community Council Federation welcomes guests and representatives from community-based organizations in the Seattle area. We want to be aware of issues affecting your neighborhood, and we hope that you will join us with your input at our monthly meetings at Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Avenue South.
Jeannie Hale, Chair; Rick Barrett, Vice-Chair

Meeting called to order at 7:11pm; introductions. Minutes
from September meeting approved.

SCCF bank balance: #3,414.82.

Topic: Budget

Mayor presents the proposed budget in late September; City
Council acts on it and approves by mid-November. The City Budget is a statement
of the city's priorities. It is a two-year budget. In the general fund, the
largest amount is budgeted on public safety.

Bill Bradburd asked if we know how much other cities pay for
public safety.

Chris Leman: Good question.

Jeff Floor: Similarly sized Boston has more police.

Chris Leman: Other cities are cutting public safety and
closing fire stations. The Mayor feels there is enough revenue this year to add
officers, more staff.

Chris Leman: There have been steady cuts to the Crime
Prevention program; the Neighborhood Councils prevented the elimination of the
program altogether. The program tries to focus on prevention and identifying
hot spots.

Kathryn Keller mentioned East PAC meetings.

Chris Leman said that East PAC is open but West PAC is
dominated by downtown; police chief selects members. Chris said there is a
proposal to have a portion of the parking fees goes into a fund to improve the
business districts (where there are parking fees.)

Jeannie Hale: Is there any indication that we need to keep
the current police chief?

Chris Leman said that the police chief serves at the
pleasure of the Mayor. The City Council reviews every five years. Fed emergency
funds decreasing. Utilities accounts for more than half the budget but there is
no communication from the dept.

Kathryn Keller said there is good communication in Madison
Valley.

Chris Leman said that under state law, must have newspaper
of record, The Daily Journal of Commerce is not appropriate for notices.

SDOT:

Bill Bradburd said there is $2 billion in deferred
maintenance. Some arterials in bad condition. The underfunding doesn't keep up
with the backlog. Preventive maintenance is zero.

PARKS:

Chris Leman introduced John Barber to help us review the
Parks budget.

Lionel Job asked about Dept. of Neighborhoods.

Chris Leman said it is the smallest department. There have
been cuts in the number of district coordinators and the Landmarks Board. They
have an education in schools program.

John Barber said it is difficult to respond in a short time
but he said the Parks Foundation conducted a study, which shows that Parks is
$20 million a year short of funds, and has been losing ground since 1991. There
have been significant reductions in force. Although the funds are going up,
Parks is still losing 6 staff positions (FTEs.) This means more cutbacks in
maintenance. Seasonal workers cut. Painting crew very low in staff; they are
supposed to paint comfort stations in the parks and paint out graffiti.

Carol Fisher is on the COLA (Community off-leash areas)
Board. The lawn in these areas is only cut 2x per year.

Skip Knox asked about the lower figure for judgment of
claims. Why the lower projection?
Do they anticipate fewer claims?

John Barber thinks it is a reflection of a large settlement
paid in previous year.

Carol Fisher pointed out that the Parks Foundation has a
focus on parks and not recreation.

Kathryn Keller asked about the Green Seattle Partnership.

Chris Leman said the previous Mayor had a 25-year plan to
help maintain parks. There is rigorous reporting from Green Seattle.

GREENWAYS:

Chris Leman said the Bicycle Master Plan has no greenways in
it. Sally Bagshaw has been promoting greenways but there is no legislation to
get the greenways into the master plan. The Budget process seems to be ahead of
the planning process. Greenways are supposed to connect major parts of the
city. Money should be set aside for pedestrian/bicycle projects and have the
neighborhoods compete for the funds. We want more funding set aside for Parks
than the Parks Board is asking for.

Jeannie Hale said the Community Center hours should be
evened up.

Carol Fisher: some CCs are getting extra hours.

Chris Leman made the motion that the Federation write a
letter urging improved funding for the Parks, equitable hours for community
center operations and additional funding for crime prevention. Rick Barrett
offered the second. Motion approved unanimously.

The City budget is Seattle’s most important statement of its values and priorities. Two-year proposals that the Mayor sent the City Council last month are amidst intense analysis, discussion and amendment, with final adoption in the next few weeks. And it’s not too late to weigh in. How are the issues and programs faring that you care about, and how can you most effectively participate? Bring questions or news to share with fellow citizens and with the invited Seattle officials and volunteer commission members.

Whether you care most about parks, streets, police or fire, health and human resources, the Department of Neighborhoods, or some other program, this is an important meeting. The Mayor’s proposals for the operating budget and the capital budget are on the City Budget Office’s web site at http://www.seattle.gov/financedepartment. The City Council budget committee meeting schedules (including the Oct. 25 public hearing) and staff analyses are athttp://www.seattle.gov/council/budget.

Please join us Oct. 23 to assess the latest budget news and what to do about it. Also included is our monthly Round Robin with the opportunity to share news about your neighborhood’s issues and projects. If you have informational materials to distribute at the meeting, please bring them or e-mail electronic copies or links tojeannieh@serv.net.

7:00 Introductions/Minutes /Treasurer’s Report / President’s Report

7:10 What direction is the City Council moving on the budget, and how can you participate?

8:15 Round Robin of issues and projects in your neighborhood

8:45 Other business

9:00 Adjourn

SCCF (http://seattlefederation.blogspot.com/) is one of the nation’s oldest and most active coalitions of community associations. It was founded in 1946 to facilitate resettlement of Seattle’s Japanese-American residents who had returned from wartime internment to find their homes and businesses gone; and to help Black veterans facing their own inequities. Its monthly meetings are open to the public, and suggestions for agenda items are always welcome. Yearly dues for member groups are $50, and new groups are always welcome. Individual donations are also welcome, and go very far, as SCCF is all-volunteer. Please mail your check to SCCF, 2370 Yale Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102-3310. For questions, contact treasurer Chris Leman at 206-322-5463 orcleman@oo.net.

Trees make Seattle a livable city. The Seattle Community Council Federation supports strong legislation to protect Seattle’s urban forest. While we applaud the Department of Planning and Development for eliminating some weaknesses in an earlier draft of the proposed tree regulations ordinance, the draft that was released on July 11, 2012 has failed to address some important concerns raised by the public about the earlier draft, and we urge that the proposal be strengthened before it is presented for consideration by the City Council.

We represent a diversity of neighborhood and community interests across the city that supports the goal of increasing Seattle’s urban forestry canopy to 30% from our current approximately 23% cover. We expressed support for these goals when we commented on the previous proposal. Here are specific comments regarding the current proposal:

The current proposal actually eliminates some important protections in the interim tree ordinance, such as the protection of tree groves. These provide habitat value for wildlife that individual trees do not. Patch size is important for maintaining a diversity of bird species and other wildlife. This is well documented in the scientific literature.

We applaud DPD’s recognition in the July 11 draft that a permit system is needed for removal of trees over 24 inches in diameter. Large trees provide many more infrastructure benefits to the city, like removing carbon dioxide and other air pollutants and reducing storm water runoff. We also support the requirement that removal of such trees involve a finding that the tree is hazardous.

However, we urge that the proposed tree ordinance be revised to provide better protection for trees under 24 inches in diameter. As was noted at SCCF’s Sept. 25, 2012 meeting where DPD’s Brennon Staley was present, 24 inch diameter trees only represent about 14% of Seattle’s tree population. Allowing the removal of an unlimited number of trees less than 24 inches sends the wrong message to the public about the value of trees. It is a retreat from the current position of not removing from each lot more than 3 trees per year (an amount which is already quite generous). We suggest that the allowed removal be 3 trees in any three year period.

We also oppose the removal of protection of exceptional trees less than 24 inches in diameter. The current Director’s Rule 16-2008 protects a number of trees that never will reach 24 inches in diameter, even at maturity. Of 28 native tree species currently protected as exceptional, only 7 would still be protected under the 24 inch threshold. The language in the July 11 draft ordinance is a complete reversal from the interim ordinance, and backs away from efforts to maintain a diversity of tree species. We support having a two tiered permit system that includes trees down to 8 or 10 inches in diameter. To track tree loss or gain citywide, we need to know what is happening to the majority of our trees, not just 14%. If adopted, the July 11 ordinance proposal would open the city up to significant tree loss from disease or insect infestations as our mix of tree species becomes less diverse.

If we want the public to support tree protection we need to communicate to city residents that all trees are valuable and that diversity is important. A healthy urban forest has a diversity of tree sizes and ages. There is a need to say that trees less than 24 inches in diameter have value, including replacement for large trees that die.

Having to get a permit to remove trees, even if it is free, is a great educational tool to let citizens know that trees have value. Removing limits on the number of trees less than 24 inches in diameter and the lack of a permit to remove smaller trees is reducing protection of our trees, sends the wrong message to the public and is contrary to the national trend for increasing protection of urban trees through clear regulations and limits on tree removal.

The current City Comprehensive Plan promises no net loss of tree canopy and a goal of 40% ultimately. Without a strong tree regulations ordinance, this promise cannot be fulfilled. We must require replacement of trees removed, either on or off site. Other cities, like Portland, have adopted a replacement policy for trees removed.

We support two-week posting of property where trees are to be removed, just as SDOT posts its plans to remove street trees. SDOT also has a permit system to prune or remove street trees that has been working for a number of years. The tree regulations ordinance should draw upon this experience in requiring a permit for removal of trees on private land. The City needs to provide notice and disclosure to homeowners so they can understand what is expected of them in helping to maintain Seattle’s tree canopy. A key place for this disclosure is when property changes hands via real estate transactions.

Another way to help educate the public and insure compliance with the tree code is that all arborists operating in the city should be licensed and trained. In most cases it is the arborist that will deal with applying for city permits to remove trees, just as contractors (not the homeowner) now get building permits to do electrical work. This arrangement eliminates the problem mentioned by DPD that homeowners would find it difficult to identify tree species or size or to define a tree grove is. Professionals would be making these determinations.

Safety is another reason for certifying arborists. Having a licensed arborist remove large trees would put the burden on them to understand the law and also do the job safely. The arborist, not just the homeowner, would be accountable for any code violations. This is how it works now with homeowners who hire contractors for construction work that requires city permits.

In protecting trees during construction and at other times, we believe there is great value in protecting native tree species, especially conifers. Our northwest rain occurs mainly in the winter yet this is when deciduous trees lose their leaves, shedding more rain and clogging up drains. Conifers provide the most value in reducing storm water runoff and drainage problems for the city.

We support continued efforts to educate people about the value of retaining and planting trees and looking for incentives to save trees. However, we do not believe these educational efforts will work in the long run without an expanded tree permit and tracking system. This need for regulation has been borne out by other cities which have concluded for rigorous regulations including permit systems.

Please revise the July 11 draft tree regulations ordinance to strengthen protections for our urban forest. Otherwise, this draft will go backwards in removing some protections in the interim ordinance. Our Emerald City urban forest is a unique treasure and needs our best efforts to protect and enhance it for future generations that come after us. Thank you for considering the views of the Seattle Community Council Federation.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Proposed levy ordinance should hold harmless the existing funding of the
Library, commit to increased hours and days of opening, and create a strong,
independent, and geographically balanced oversight committee to ensure
accountability

Dear City Councilmember:

Throughout our 66 year
history, the Seattle Community Council Federation has strongly supported
funding for the Seattle Public Library.As you know, Council Bill 117425 is a proposed ordinance that would
place before the voters a 7-year property tax levy of about $17
million/year.

SCCF has not yet taken a
position on the proposed levy, but believes that improvements in the levy
ordinance are needed to make it most deserving of assent from the voters.First, we suggest that C.B. 117425 be
amended to commit the City Council not to cut the existing level of library
support from the General Fund, and to increase the hours and days of the week
in which the downtown library and the branch libraries are open.As currently written, the proposed levy
ordinance would allow the City Council to completely displace with levy funds
the current level of General Fund support now provided to the Library, and not
to make any increase in the hours or days of the week of being open.

Without a City Council
commitment to maintain General Fund support and to increase the hours and days
of the week when the libraries are open, passage of the levy could leave the
Library with no more funds than it has today, plus no assurance of continued
funding when the levy runs out at the end of seven years.Consider that although the 1999 parks
levy provided operating support, when the levy ran out that funding was not
fully restored from the General Fund, leaving Department of Parks and
Recreation funding in worse shape than before the levy was passed.

Our other concern is that C.B.
117425 does not include an oversight committee to ensure public accountability
for spending of the levy proceeds.We urge that the levy ordinance include a strong, independent, and
geographically balanced oversight committee by use of the same language from
Resolutions 29846, 29952, and 29997 that created the oversight committee for
the Libraries for All bond measure.

Accountability for voter-approved
levy and bond revenues via oversight committees has been central to voter
approval of the bond and levy measures of recent decades.Such committees have overseen not only the
Libraries for All bond measure, but the Bridging the Gap transportation levy,
Families and Education levy, Housing levy, and both Parks levies.In almost all cases, the oversight
committees were created by the ordinance that put the measure on the
ballot.Some of the committees
have been more effective than others, but none have greater power,
independence, or geographic balance than did the oversight committee for the
Libraries for All bond measure.

Taxpayers are more likely to
approve a bond or levy measure if they know that spending of the revenues will
be overseen by an oversight committee.A strong, independent, and geographically balanced oversight committee
is especially needed for the Library levy as it was for the Libraries for All
bond measure because the Library Board has so much power but is not elected,
and because of concerns that branch libraries will be sacrificed to the funding
needs of the downtown library.

The City Council created a
public oversight committee for the Libraries for All bond issue shortly before
the November 1998 election because the bond issue was being criticized for a
lack of accountability in how the funds were to be spent.SCCF urges the Council to be more
proactive in this case by establishing the oversight committee in the bond
issue ordinance (C.B. 117425), using the same language as was in Resolutions 29846,
29952, and 29997.This letter was
discussed, revised, and approved at the Seattle Community Council Federation’s
March 27 meeting.

From:
Seattle Community Council Federation, City Neighborhood Council delegates and
other concerned citizens and organizations

Re:
“Regulatory Reform” Ordinance

Thank
you for listening to our concerns over the past couple of months regarding
the“Regulatory Reform” package. We appreciate your help to date in making this
legislation better. And while many improvements have been made, we still have a
few concerns and hope that you will act responsibly to amend the legislation in
order to correct remaining flaws. Because some of the issues are so critically
important and can have longlasting effects, additional time must be taken
crafting and reviewing the legislative amendments. We urge you to delay a vote
at full council until amendments to this legislation are available for
consideration.

1.
Protect Neighborhood Commercial Zones.

• We
appreciate that the legislation has already been amended in committee to ensure
that 59

currently
mapped but not yet enacted P zone overlays citywide would be reviewed before
allowing any changes that would eliminate the requirement to provide ground
floor commercial space in those neighborhood commercial zones.

• We
remain concerned however that some areas are exposed that are not on the city’s
P zone study list and therefore part of the legislation since these areas
represent on a fraction of the neighborhood commercial zone areas citywide. In
particular we feel the station areas around Northgate and Mt Baker do not have
adequate P zone protections (understanding that Northgate will be studied soon
as part of preparation for the station). This is contrary to policy goals of
creating compact, dense walkable communities around light rail stops.
Additionally, other areas do not have full P zone protections which may be
contrary to adopted neighborhood plans. While we do not know what criteria were
used by DPD to identify the initial P zone study areas, we would like to see
some level of protections for commercial uses at street level to continue, if
warranted, for
areas such as those identified above.

• We
suggest that as a safeguard against inadvertent omission of an area that now
meets or will meet the criteria for a P zone in the future (but not yet
identified by the 2005 Main Street Mapping initial study) the legislation be
further amended to ensure that for the remaining NC2/3 and C zones where
commercial uses were once required at street level , some process be developed
for determining what is the correct land use pattern – i.e. DPD oversight of
these “optional zoning” choices being afforded to the developer.

• During the initial intake meeting
with an applicant seeking to permit a single purpose residential use in any C1,
NC2 or NC3 zone, the Department of Planning and Development should evaluate the
blockface that includes the parcel(s) to be developed, and one blockface in
each direction from the project site to determine if the area meets the
criteria for a Pedestrian Overlay zone. If the area meets the rezone criteria,
the project will be approved only as a mixed use project or as a single purpose
residential project with City Council conditional use approval. The project
could also be approved with the ground floor designed for conversion to a
future commercial uses but with temporary live-work uses allowed for a period
of 6 years.

2.
Changes to SEPA thresholds in Urban Centers and Station Areas

• We
strongly object to the changing of SEPA thresholds. While the rationale for
this change originated when the construction sector was depressed as a means to
spur development, we no longer face those conditions. SEPA affords many
protections that, contrary to assertions by DPD, other review mechanisms and
regulations do not fully ensure. The Maple Leaf Community Council has produced
strong evidence of this. Since these changes are targeted at areas where there
are often more poor or people of color, removal of these protections is a
social justice issue.

• We
understand that there are two scenarios being considered to amend the current
legislation (which has raised the SEPA threshold from 30 units to 200 units).
The first looks at resetting the threshold to 60, the second to 100.

• We
believe that the threshold should not be set higher than 60 units in order to
provide the greatest protections and rights to the affected communities. This
is a doubling of
the current SEPA threshold trigger. We ask that you support this amendment only
if you find it necessary to raise the threshold.

• We
request that requirements for notification found in SEPA today be added into
the legislation. For example, the large white signboards that notify a
community of a proposed project. Particularly since you recently enacted
legislation limiting right of appeal to those who have submitted project
comments, it is imperative that if you change SEPA thresholds that notification
of Design Review be made prominent. The white notification boards are iconic
and help provide that outreach.

3.
Preserve appeal rights for renewals of Temporary Use permits.

• This
legislation was introduced under the claim that the process to obtain a
temporary use permit was

Monday, July 9, 2012

Speaker: Steve Sheppard, Dept. of Neighborhoods.He began with a history of the city
going back to the 60's and how Seattle became a regional center after the 1962
World's Fair.The functions of
major institutions began to expand; UW and major hospitals began a rapid
expansion into the 70's.There
were no zones specific for institutions; they would purchase land in adjacent
zones which tended to be low rise.The City negotiated with institutions as overlay; different rules would
apply.The City preferred upward
growth, not outward. The City wanted a three way partnership and developed a
master plan with the neighborhoods. with a redo every 10 to 15 years.Look at the institutional needs and
balance with neighborhood needs.Most
neighborhoods were less dense than other cities.

But there were conflicting interests. There was a need to
protect the liveability of surroundingneighborhoods but the City needs growth of institutions and jobs.Institutions need certainty for
growth.This program and goals
remained intact since the mid 70's.

Major changes began in 1996 when the institutions came to
the City with a strong argument; they can't effectively plan far into the
future as they are hit with amendments to the plan.They requested the nature of the plan be changed; develop
height standards and review by that.

Today: Institution informs city it wants to develop a master
plan and develops a concept plan.A call is put out for people to be on an Advisory Council.The notices go out in a half mile area
around the institution.There is a
request for resumes.There are
usually 12 on the committee (can be from 6-12) with 3 or 4 alternates.The City Council can expand the
group.The resumes go to
Steve.Each applicant is
interviewed.The institution
recommends a list which goes to the Director of the Dept. of Neighborhoods who
shares the list with Steve Sheppard.Negotiations over who is on the slate: then present to list to Mayor and
then to City Council.Meetings can
begin after the Mayor's approval with the understanding that City Council could
make changes.

Three groups are represented: staff, institution, residents
but groups not always in sync.

Problems:

1. lack of disclosure about plans and lack of end date

2. appointment process.City Council in favor of wider representation.Some conflicts around representation at
Children's and Swedish-Providence.

3. Major changes in funding of major institutions;
partnerships with private developers. Tussles around parking.TMP-transportation management plan. How
does the institution reduce single vehicle use & parking?Every institution asks for more than
the limited number; maximum is 135% of stated limit. (Yellow handout provided
which provides excerpts from the Director's report on Code amendments)

Chris Leman: Regulatory reform developed in closed way; the
parking issue did not involve the public.DON learned about two months ago; he passed out copies of an email
confirming this.

Betsy Braun (Virginia Mason) said they were developing a
master plan and their transportation person was operating under the old parking
limits.

Chris Leman said he hoped that Virginia Mason would stand
with them at the hearing tomorrow.

Steve Sheppard: Right now plans are developed with CACs.

Jeannie Hale: Proposals are inconsistent with Master Plan.
She expressed hope that "we can work together." Why did they drop
having reps from CACs on the committees? There is no reporting back to the
community if members are from other neighborhoods.Neighborhoods originally chose reps unttil1996 when it was
changed to City & City Council.

Steve Sheppard: They try to get representation from surrounding
community but not taking from community organizations.Attempts to bring the process in line
with other Boards, giving more influence to City and City Council.

Betsy Braun: lessons were learned from Children's Hospital
process.VM has had good
representation from surrounding communities.There have been lively discussions and they had to go out
and negotiate with the community.

Peter Steinbrueck: The process is best served with a
diversity of representation and opinions.

Steve Sheppard: Always advises institutions to incorporate
those in CCs even if adversarial .

Peter Steinbrueck: goal was to be representative of whole
area.

Jeannie Hale: U Village should have master plan.

Janet Brucker said she was representative on Northgate group
and felt it was broadly based.She
asked Peter Steinbrueckhow it
came about?

Peter Steinbrueck said he wrote the process.SC Chancellor led the process; he had
credibility and has been written up nationally as a case study for effective
representation.

Chris Leman said that 1996 was the expiration ofplans. Tended to be true dialogue at
that time.

Kirk Robbins asked if there was a way a CC can receive
communications if unable to get on the advisory council.

Steve Sheppard: Yes, just provide an email address.

Jorgen Bader: At the veryleast, require that the community representative report back
to the community.

Betsy Braun: Major institutional groups get together each
year to discuss progress on plans and any issues.Process is time demanding for volunteers; a burden.

Sonia Richter: I would like to focus on the future, not past
battles with Children's. How do we proceed if unhappy with the plan adopted?

Steve Sheppard: This is a key element in the development of
the 1300 block.The neighborhood
is not happy. Key issue is to know the representation; who is on the committee?
Get good people to apply; develop a good relationship with the institution.

Chris Leman: Major institutions chose their own reps;
communities should have the same process.

Jeannie Hale: Materials are not provided in advance even
though there are complex issues. Children's did try but so many consultants.

Steve Sheppard: Institutions want a shorter process; so does
the city. Compressing it creates problems but not really conspiratorial. Built
in conflicts is cost and not wanting adversarial process.

DeCharlene Williams said she wouldn't vote on something she
hadn't read ahead of time.

Betsy Braun: isn't time process mandated?

Steve Sheppard: Different issue; leasing on a building came
up late; vote didn't happen.

Jeannie Hale: Make sure materials out ahead of time.Issues in 2007 letter still appropriate.

Chris Leman suggested a letter restating the facts.

Ted Klainer: What is the genesis of this organization?

Chris Leman: the Federation started in the 1940's helping
Japanese returnees. and expanded into a city wide group. The organization is
interested in open government.

President's report: Jeannie Hale said the school district
has discontinued allowing groups to use facilities after hours.Ted Jonsson not being evicted; can live
out his years in his studio/home.

Steve Sheppard thanked Chris Leman for his work on the
artist's behalf.CUCAC did write a

letter and Tom Rasmussen intervened. He urged all
communities to get involved with major institutions and email him to be put on
email lists: Steve.Sheppard@seattle.gov.

Betsy Braun echoed Steve's urging. They are about to issue
draft info on the VM website.Meeting at VM tomorrow night.

Jeannie Hale reported that there is a 9 AM Seattle City
Council vote on exempting 8 of the 14 major institutions from the parking
regulations.

Chris Leman briefed the group on their face to face meetings
with Council members (joint Federation & Neighborhood Coalition).Burgess and Clark their last 2 to
meet.Conlin: striker amendment;
would not give it to them.No
opportunity to read ahead.Other
CC members pushed for more time.

Colleen McAleer reported that SR 520 design is proposing a Cable
Stay design bridge at the West Montlake Park portion; it has taller towers and
a busy look with more cables. Different design with shorter towers for the Portage
Bay area.(See attached
documents.)

Round Robin: Yesler
Terrace redevelopment should have a City Council hearing within the next few
months.

MOTION: Rick Barrett
moved that we write a letter asking that every low income unit (562) be
replaced. Second: Chris Leman.Vote: Unanimous.

Jorgen Bader said there is a meeting tomorrow evening at the
Neptune on the Brooklyn Station name.He also expressed concern about consolidating families in high rise
buildings; buildings should be integrated.

Jim Erickson said the Advisory group was not segregating
groups.

Kristin O'Donnell: redevelopment dependent on private
developers.They may not go for
it; federal government backing out of subsidizing.

Chris Leman: The Advisory Committee is recommending mixed
use buildings?

Jim Erickson: news to him that no longer mixed; go to the
website.

Bill Bradburd: City Council getting briefings now

Diane Snell: Leschi has an Art Walk on June 9th from 11-4
PM.She also introduced Jeff
Floor, Leschi's recently elected representative to the Federation.

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SEATTLE COMMUNITY COUNCIL FEDERATION
Monthly Meeting –Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, 7 p.m.
Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Avenue South 98144
[This beautiful facility with free parking and a grand view of Lake Washington is just three blocks east of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S. and one block south of S. Jackson Street]
AGENDA
Gun Violence: what should government and citizens do to reduce it?
featuring Beth Flynn, Executive Director of Washington CeaseFire
Recent mass killings are only a fraction of gun deaths. In Washington state alone, nearly 6,000 people have been killed by guns in the past decade--more than died in traffic accidents. On Jan. 16, President Obama unveiled legislative proposals to reduce gun violence, and took many administrative actions toward that end.
Washington CeaseFire (http://washingtonceasefire.org) is proposing measures to reduce gun violence at the state and local level. Other states have closed the gun-show loophole, banned the sale of military-style assault weapons, limited handgun sales to one per month, carefully regulated concealed weapon permits, and banned open carrying of guns. None of those policies apply in Washington state, which ranks among the most loosely regulated states in terms of guns, and has state laws that prevent local governments from addressing gun violence.
Join us at the Jan. 22 meeting in welcoming Beth Flynn, Executive Director of Washington CeaseFire, as we discuss what government and citizens can do to reduce gun violence. Also included is our monthly Round Robin with the opportunity to share news about your neighborhood’s issues and projects. If you have informational materials to distribute at the meeting, please bring them or e-mail electronic copies or links to jeannieh@serv.net.
7:00 Introductions/Minutes /Treasurer’s Report / President’s Report
7:10 Gun violence: What should government and citizens do to reduce it?
8:15 Round Robin of issues and projects in your neighborhood
8:45 Other business
9:00 Adjourn
SCCF (http://seattlefederation.blogspot.com/) is one of the nation’s oldest and most active coalitions of community associations. It was founded in 1946 to facilitate resettlement of Seattle’s Japanese-American residents who had returned from wartime internment to reclaim their homes and businesses; and to help Black veterans coming back from the war. Over the decades, SCCF has grown to cover the entire City. Its monthly meetings are open to the public, and suggestions for agenda items are always welcome. Yearly dues for member groups are $50, and new groups are always welcome. Individual donations are also welcome, and go very far, as SCCF is all-volunteer. Please mail your check to SCCF, 2370 Yale Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102-3310. For questions, contact treasurer Chris Leman at 206-322-5463 or cleman@oo.net.

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The non-profit Seattle Community Council Federation, perhaps the nations’ most venerable umbrella organization is dedicated to neighborhood issues. Founded in 1946 as the Jackson Street Community Council to help resettle Seattlelites of Japanese origin returning from internment camps, and to assist black veterans coming back from the war. Both groups often returned to Seattle to find their homes and businesses appropriated, local government indifferent or hostile. Over the decades the Federation has grown to cover the entire city. To learn more about how the Federation might help your neighborhood go to SeattleFederation.Blogspot.com.

The non-profit Seattle Community Council Federation, perhaps the nations’ most venerable umbrella organization is dedicated to neighborhood issues. Founded in 1946 as the Jackson Street Community Council to help resettle Seattlelites of Japanese origin returning from internment camps, and to assist black veterans coming back from the war. Both groups often returned to Seattle to find their homes and businesses appropriated, local government indifferent or hostile. Over the decades the Federation has grown to cover the entire city. To learn more about how the Federation might help your neighborhood go to SeattleFederation.Blogspot.com.

About Me

Founded in 1948, the Seattle Community Council Federation is one of the nation's oldest and most active coalitions of neighborhood groups.Yearly dues for member groups are $50.SCCF welcomes new member groups, and encourages renewal by groups whose membership in SCCF may have lapsed.Individual donations are also welcome and tax deductible, and go very far, as SCCF is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization.Please mail your check to SCCF, 2370 Yale Avenue East, Seattle, WA98102-3310.For questions, contact treasurer Chris Leman, (206) 322-5463, cleman@oo.net.

Seattle Community Council Federation,3425 West Laurelhurst Drive NESeattle WA 98105